Somewhere in Russia
Clay awoke disoriented and confused. He knew he wasn�t in his room in the apartment in Suriname, but then�where was he? Webb peered into the darkness, but the room was in was too dark for him to see anything.
Just then, the agent heard a noise and turned in the direction it seemed to be coming from just in time to see a door open. The dark room was flooded with light and Webb blinked at the sudden brightness.
�Ah,� said a voice. �You�re awake, I see.�
Webb squinted at the doorway and could just make out a form standing before him. He blinked rapidly to clear his vision. As Clay�s eyes finally adjusted to the light, the man�s face became visible. Clay�s eyes narrowed as he realized who his captor was. �Sokal!� he growled. �What do you want with me?�
Mark Sokal shrugged nonchalantly. �You have information that I need.�
�Do you honestly think I�ll tell you anything?� Webb asked incredulously. �What do you want to know?�
�You formed the CIA�s Special Intelligence Team,� Sokal stated softly.
Clay�s brow furrowed. �Travis formed the team, all I did was get the apportionment into the budget.�
�But you know who�s on the team,� Sokal persisted.
Clay shook his head. �They�re not even involved in activities that concern you, Sokal. They�re trying to stop the AIO from plunging all the world�s governments into chaos and anarchy.�
�That�s quite a dramatic picture you paint,� Mark commented. �Their activities do concern me, however.�
�How?�
�Classified,� Sokal answered immediately. �Who�s on the team?�
Clay smirked and replied, �Classified.�
Mark growled and punched Webb in the stomach. �Tell me!�
Clay sighed and shook off the pain; then he glared at his captor. �Do you have any idea what could happen if that information got into the wrong hands, Mark,� Clay argued. �The AIO wants to kill me, they want to kill you, they want to kill anyone who helps to spread information of any kind in any way. The director of central intelligence doesn�t even know who�s on the team!�
�But you do?� Sokal said. �How�d you get so lucky?�
Clay smiled. �Travis knows I can keep a secret.�
Sokal growled and turned away angrily. �See how talkative he when he�s forced to live on bread on water for a few days,� the agent told one of the guards as he was going out.
�If that was meant to be secret, speaking in Russian�s not gonna do you any good, Mark,� Clay called. �Any CIA agent worth their pay knows Russian!�
Sokal turned and glared at the smug American agent before striding out the door and slamming it behind him. Clay sighed and looked up at the ceiling. For once in his life, Clay almost expected someone within the Agency to send someone to rescue him. At the moment, he was too valuable to them for them to abandon him. Somewhat comforted, Clay lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. Soon he had fallen fast asleep.
*****
The Offices of the Special Intelligence Team
Chris sighed deeply as he hung up the phone. He didn�t know what game Sokal was playing, but Travis had made it clear that Webb knew too much to allow him to be interrogated by the Russian government.
Travis had told Chris that Webb could withstand at least two weeks of �intense questioning,� which Chris understood to mean torture. Since he�d been missing for three days, that gave his team a little over a week to retrieve the captured agent.
Travis had also gone to great lengths to impress upon Chris that, if rescue was impossible, the threat had to be �neutralized.� The tactical expert shook his head at the thought of having to take out one of their own, especially someone like Webb.
Clayton Webb was incredibly gifted and also quite likable, once you got past his all-business exterior. Much like Ezra, Webb used sarcasm as a defense. He acted confident, some said arrogant, most of the time, but Chris knew that this was so that people wouldn�t question him or balk at his orders. The sooner other operatives realized that, the sooner they grew to respect, and even like, the prickly man.
With all these thoughts running through his mind, Chris went into the main office to tell his team about their latest mission.
�Heads up, folks,� Chris called, getting the attention of the other six men. �We�re going to Russia.�
�Russia?� JD asked.
�What�s up?� Vin added softly.
Chris sighed. �They�ve captured Clayton Webb. Our primary mission is to rescue him from them. Barring that, we are to neutralize the possibility that the knowledge he has will fall into the wrong hands.� Chris leaned against the doorjamb and waited for the protests he knew would begin at the announcement.
�You mean�we�d have to kill him?� Nathan asked.
�Only if rescue is impossible,� Chris pointed out.
�Ain�t a sweeper,� Vin protested softly, knowing that if it came down to eliminating Webb, the task would fall to him.
Chris sighed and locked eyes with the man he looked on like a little brother. The black-clad man would do whatever he had to in order to protect his brother from having to take the life of one of their own. Even so, Chris said, �You�ll do what you have to to ensure the success of the mission, Vin.�
Vin nodded, but Chris could see that he wasn�t happy. Turning to the rest of the team, he said, �The whole point of this mission is to ensure the secrecy this team needs to function properly. So we�re gonna do this by the numbers.�
�We�re using codenames,� Josiah translated.
Chris nodded. �For everything. We refer to Travis as �the Judge�, any Russian guards as �mailmen� and Webb is �our package�. We all know I�m �Cowboy� and Josiah is �Preacher���
�Crackerjack,� Vin stated, answering Chris�s question before he could ask it.
Nathan nodded. �I�m Doc.�
��Cause yer a medic?� JD asked.
The healer shook his head. �No,� he said. �I worked a mission where we used a Snow White theme. All the CIA agents were dwarves.� Grinning, he looked at Chris. �Webb was �Sleepy�.�
�Man changes codenames like some change socks,� Buck commented softly.
Chris grinned at the comment and said, �Buck, are you still �Catbird�?�
The ladies man grinned toothily and nodded. �Yup,� he replied.
Ezra tipped his head to one side and looked thoughtful. �A reference to your area of expertise, Mr. Wilmington?�
�Yup,� Buck repeated proudly.
�JD? Ezra?� Chris prompted, getting the men back on track.
JD sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically. �Little Bit,� he grumbled. �I hate it!�
Chris smirked and nodded. JD was the youngest and smallest member of the team, so the codename fit perfectly, but it would still initiate teasing from the surveillance expert.
�Computer reference?� Ezra asked softly. At JD�s nod, he smiled. �It is a far better appellation than the one I was given, Mr. Dunne.�
�What is yours?� Buck asked.
Ezra blushed and mumbled something unintelligible.
�What was that?� Vin asked, grinning broadly. He thought he knew, but he wanted to others to hear it as well.
Ezra shot the sniper a glare that would rival one from Larabee and growled, �Pooh Bear, Mr. Tanner. I was saddled with the loathsome moniker of Pooh Bear!�
�Why?� Nathan asked incredulously, as a few members of the team tried to stifle chuckles.
Ezra shook his head and turned away from the group. �I have to call Mary and see if she can watch Amanda for the duration of our mission.�
Chris smiled at his brother and commented, �Least now I know I�m not the only one who hates my codename.�
Vin chuckled and shook his head. �Pooh Bear,� he said softly. �There�s gotta be a story behind that one.�
Chris nodded and said, loudly enough that everyone could hear, �We�re traveling by military transport, so everyone be at Andrews in two hours. We�ll debrief upon arrival at out home base in Russia.�
The team leader�s announcement was met with scattered nods and the rest of the team started gathering the equipment they might need for the mission. Chris turned and re-entered his office, to start planning what their first move would be upon arriving in Russia.
En route to Russia
�How�s he do that?� JD asked, indicating the sleeping southerner.
Chris glanced up from the file he was reading and shrugged. �He took a tranquilizer, Little Bit. He can sleep anywhere.�
JD glared at the use of his codename, but realized the necessity of it. Sighing, he argued, �But he was just awake and talking. He was coherent enough to be able to change flights without any trouble��
Vin smiled and said, �Maybe he was sleepwalking.�
�Yeah, right,� JD said sarcastically.
�Whatever,� Chris stated firmly. �We have more important things to worry about than Pooh Bear�s sleeping habits.�
�Okay, Cowboy,� Vin replied. �Anything new?�
Chris nodded. �The Judge called. Our people in the area have been able to ascertain where Webb was taken. We�ll be setting up a few miles away. Little Bit and Catbird will begin surveillance of the area.�
Chris turned to the other members of the team and added, �Once we know the lay of the land, we�ll be able to formulate a course of action.�
�Alright,� Josiah said softly.
Chris sighed and glanced over the files again. �At the moment it looks as though Pooh Bear will go�deep into the hundred acre woods?�
�Under cover of the trees?� Vin questioned, already knowing what his brother was referring to.
Chris nodded and went on. �I don�t want him to go in alone just yet, so � Crackerjack � you�ll be going in with him.�
Vin frowned. �I don�t usually go play in the woods, Cowboy,� he commented, continuing the metaphor.
�Can�t be helped,� Chris said, glancing down at the file again. �Pooh Bear�s not going in alone.�
Somewhere in Russia
�Dear Lord,� Ezra mumbled glancing around the old cabin. Every inch was covered with dust and cobwebs. The southerner didn�t even want to consider what might be hiding from sight under the debris that was spread around the room.
Chris came in behind the undercover man and sighed. �Well, people, it looks as though we�re gonna have a little work to do to make this a workable home base.�
�If it weren�t cold outside,� Vin added. �I think I�d sleep under the stars.�
Chris nodded and said, �Little Bit, Catbird, I want you two to start setting up you�re equipment.� When the two agents nodded, Chris turned his attention to the rest of his team. �Doc, our friend may need medical attention after we pick him up from the sitter. I want you to get a room as sterile as you can for that purpose. Josiah can help you.�
�Alright, Brother,� Josiah said softly, patting Nathan on the shoulder and nodding toward another room.
Chris nodded once and turned to the two remaining agents. �It�ll be up to us to get this place somewhat livable. We may be here for as much as a week.�
�I�ll go gather firewood,� Ezra volunteered, and headed quickly for the door.
Chris called the southerner and said, �If you aren�t back in ten minutes, I�m coming after you, Pooh Bear. Crackerjack and I aren�t going to do this by ourselves.�
Ezra sighed and nodded, then went out the door.
Vin smiled at his brother and said, �Well, Cowboy, let�s start getting� this place in order.�
�Yup,� Chris said.
By the time Ezra had returned with the firewood, Chris and Vin had cleaned most of the common room. Chris smiled and said, �Three bedrooms, three of us. You start on the corner room.�
Ezra nodded and forced a smile. He peered into the room his leader had indicated and sighed deeply. If it were possible, this room appeared even worse the common room had been. Steeling himself, he mumbled, �Courage, Ezra, courage. It�s just a little dirt, there can�t be too many spiders living in here.�
As the seven men finished their appointed chores, they began gathering in the common room. Josiah opened the cabinet where Chris had put their travel rations and began to prepare dinner and Chris leaned against the door to finish debriefing his team.
�Mark took our package nearly four days ago now. The Judge figures it can remain sealed for about two weeks, so that gives us about a week and a half before we have to fish or cut bait.� At the scattered nods from his men, he continued. �What do we know, Catbird?�
Buck looked up and said, �There are only a handful of �mailmen� at the facility, which is why we were able to set up so closely.�
JD nodded. �We think they�re holding our package in a room on the north end of the facility. Mark keeps going in and out of there.�
Chris nodded.
Ezra glanced at Buck and asked, �Are they liable to notice one or two new bodies?�
Buck frowned thoughtfully and shook his head.
Ezra smiled and glanced at Chris. �Crackerjack and I can go in as one of them.�
�How�d you know you wouldn�t be going in alone?� Chris asked.
Ezra shrugged. �I guessed. We�ve only been together for four months and I�ve only gone under a few times during that time period. I figured you wouldn�t want me to be under alone just yet. Was I wrong?�
�No,� Chris answered. �You�re right and your plan could work. You still aren�t cleared for deep cover, so you will have to wait until we�re ready to move, alright?�
Ezra nodded and Chris turned his attention to Josiah, �I want you to be ready to put on a little show for the others, something that will bring them away from Pooh Bear and Crackerjack.�
Josiah nodded and said, �I think something can be arranged, Brother.�
Chris turned to JD and said, �Send a message to the Judge, careful how you word it, in case it gets intercepted or tapped and remember they�re eight hours behind us.�
The younger man nodded and said, �Alright, Cowboy, whatever you think we need to do.�
Chris nodded. There was one more thing he needed to tell his men and he knew it would only serve to make their task more difficult. �The Judge doesn�t want us to effect any casualties among Sokal�s men.�
Vin frowned and said, �Let me get this straight: If we can�t succeed in the primary mission, we have to take out our target, but no matter how we play this, we ain�t supposed to take out anyone else?�
�Effectively,� Chris said softly.
�Then how do we neutralize threats?� Ezra asked.
�Well,� Chris replied. �We�re supposed to use dartguns. There�s enough tranquilizer in each dart to take down a full grown man.�
�Doable,� Vin said. �Won�t make our job any easier, but it�s still doable.�
Chris nodded; then said, �Anything else?� When he didn�t get an answer, he nodded. �Let�s eat then and get some rest. We�ll each take a watch now that Catbird and Little Bit have the equipment set up. Anything needs tweaking, wake Catbird.�
�Yeah,� Buck agreed. �I�ll bust yer finger if ya mess up my stuff.�
McLean, VA
Orrin came into his office and glanced around. By that point Larabee and his men should be settled in Russia and working on rescuing Clay. Travis only hoped they got the man out safely.
He turned on his computer and pulled up his agency email. He frowned when there was no message from the team. Just as he was about to turn away from the screen to go over his mounting paperwork, the screen flashed to indicate a new message.
Travis allowed a small smile to touch his lips and opened the letter.
�Judge,� it read. �We have arrived at our destination. Catbird and Little Bit have made visual contact with our package and it appears undamaged. Pooh Bear is preparing to go into the hundred acre woods with Crackerjack. Preacher is planning celebratory fireworks and Doc is getting ready to receive the package.�
Travis nodded and smiled at the signature line, where there was a single word, �Cowboy.�
Somewhere in Russia
Chris glanced over JD�s shoulder and read the response from Travis. All it said was, �Good luck.�
Chris nodded and said, �Get ready for bed, Little Bit.�
�It�s only six o�clock!� JD argued.
Chris locked eyes with they young man and said, �You�re taking the midnight watch, I want you wide awake when your turn comes.�
JD sighed and got up from his seat in front of the keyboard. �Yes, sir,� he grumbled, as he headed off toward the room he was going to share with Buck.
***
The next day, Buck got up early and sat down at the receiver for the listening devise he had pointed at the facility. He listened for a few moments, then swore colorfully. �Hey Cowboy,� he called.
Chris peeked into the room and said, �Problem?�
�They�re getting ready to move our package,� Buck replied, locking eyes with his friend. �We don�t pick it up soon, we aren�t gonna be able to pick it up at all.�
Chris nodded and looked at Vin, who was seated in the common room eating breakfast. �Crackerjack, wake up Pooh Bear. You two have to go soon.�
Vin nodded and hurried into the room he�d shared with Standish the previous night. The southerner was curled up on his side, eyes squeezed tightly shut and pillow pulled against his chest. �Hey,� Vin said, poking the sleeping man.
�Hmm?� Ezra said, waking and rubbing his eyes. �Is it morning already?� he asked tiredly.
�Yeah,� Vin answered. �The mailmen are getting ready to move our package, so we gotta move up our plans to pick it up.�
Ezra sighed and nodded. �Let me get dressed. Your uniform is in my bag too.�
�Where�d you get uniforms?� Vin asked, taking the bundle from the still-sleepy agent.
Ezra shrugged. �I thought they might come in handy,� he said, not really answering the question.
Vin wasn�t sure if Standish was just that tired or if he was intentionally ignoring the question. Either way, it would have to wait until a better time, right now they had more important things to worry about.
***
Ezra and Vin carefully made their way onto the grounds of the facility and headed for the part of the main building where Sokal was holding Webb.
�Not very much security,� Vin commented softly.
Ezra nodded and said, �I rather suspect that we are not the only one performing without sanction from our superiors. Sokal probably has as many guards as he could get without drawing undue attention.�
Vin nodded. He knew that the Director of Central Intelligence didn�t really sanction their activities, even if they were officially part of the Agency. The only people that knew who was on the team were Webb and Travis. Only a few other people even knew of its existence. Which begged the question, �How did Sokal find out?�
Because of the lack of guards, the pair easily made it into the building unnoticed and began making their way toward where Webb was being held.
�We were sent to relieve you,� Ezra told the two guards outside the door. The two men smiled and walked away.
�You speak Russian better than them,� Vin whispered.
Ezra shrugged and placed his ear against the door. �Sokal�s in there,� he whispered.
***
�We will get you to talk, Webb,� Sokal growled.
Clay sighed and locked eyes with the foreign agent. �Why do you care who is on the team, Mark? They aren�t even interested in you!�
Sokal glared and stepped away from his captive.
Webb�s eyes widened in astonishment. �You can�t be thinking of trying to side with the AIO, Sokal! That�s � that�s just crazy!�
�You think so,� Sokal replied.
�They don�t care about what country you�re from, Mark. They won�t become allies with you, no matter what you give them. All you�ll succeed in doing is killing innocent men.�
�Innocent?� Sokal asked. �Is anyone in this game innocent, Webb?�
Clay sighed and leaned back against the wall. Whatever he was going to say was cut off when a Russian soldier entered the room.
�Major,� the man said.
Sokal turned to the soldier and prompted, �Is there something wrong?�
The soldier nodded. �It is time for his meal,� he replied softly, holding up a tray in front of Sokal.
Mark scowled. �Of course,� he answered.
The soldier set the tray in front of the American agent; then stepped back and turned to the Major. �Has he given us anything, sir?�
�No,� Sokal growled. �He�s being stubborn and foolish.�
�Well,� the soldier said, in perfect English. �The Cowboy will be pleased to know that the Judge was correct in his estimation of Mr. Webb�s ability to resist �intense questioning�.�
Sokal�s eyes widened in astonishment. �Who are you?� he breathed.
The soldier smiled and pulled his gun on the Major. �The rescue party,� he answered, a southern accent tingeing the words. �Don�t try anythin�, Major. I wouldn�t want to have to kill you.�
�Pooh bear?� Webb breathed softly.
The soldier smiled and nodded once. �Can you walk?�
Webb breathed a sigh of relief and answered, �I�d walk through fire and brimstone if it meant you were bringing me out of here.�
�Well,� Ezra said. �I don�t believe that will be necessary.�
�You don�t honestly think you can just take him and walk right out of here?� Sokal asked incredulously.
�Oh dear Lord, no,� Ezra answered. �At least not until our distraction is well and truly under way.�
�Distraction?� Sokal asked.
Ezra smiled and placed one finger in his ear. �I have collected our package. You are go with the celebratory explosives, Preacher.�
�Alright, Pooh bear,� Josiah answered through the small microphone. �Prepare for the show.�
Ezra beckoned to Webb, who stood on shaky legs and moved to stand behind the southerner. �Goodbye, Major Sokal,� Ezra said softly, firing the pistol at the Russian agent.
Sokal gasped and collapsed to the group, unconscious. �Knock-out darts?� Webb asked in disbelief.
Ezra smiled and said, �It�s not an official mission, Clayton. We can�t very well go about killing people indiscriminately, now can we?�
�Then�then why shoot him at all?� Clay asked, shaking his head in confusion.
�I didn�t want him to follow,� Ezra answered softly. �Come on.�
Webb nodded and followed the southerner out of the room, just as a series of large explosions shook the building. �Your distraction?�
Ezra smirked and glanced out a nearby window. At a particularly large, flamboyant explosion, he mumbled, �The Preacher seems to have outdone himself this time.�
�Yeah,� said a voice in the shadows. �It sure is pretty.�
Clay gasped and stepped back behind Ezra.
�Crackerjack,� the southerner said, nodding once. �You seemed to have caused some distress to our package.�
�Sorry,� the Texan said, locking eyes with Clay. �You alright, Mr. Webb.�
Webb nodded and blushed. �A little jumpy, somewhat sore, but I�ll live.�
�Perfectly understandable,� Ezra said, laying a hand on the man�s shoulder. �Let�s get you out of here so that Doc can look you over.�
Clay�s eyes widened. �Doc�s here?� he breathed.
�He�s on the team,� Vin said simply, shrugging his shoulders.
�Yeah, but�� Clay shook his head. �I�m sooo tired,� he moaned.
Vin nodded. �Course you are,� he answered. �Let�s get ya outa here.�
The trio carefully made their way out the building. Josiah�s distraction served them perfectly. All the soldiers in the compound were far away from them, fighting the small blazes set off by the explosions.
They soon arrived at a nondescript van parked on the access road to the base. Ezra and Vin helped Webb in and Ezra shut the door. �Let�s go,� he told the driver.
�Took ya long enough, Pooh Bear,� he said. �What did ya do, stop for a honey break?�
Ezra�s eyes narrowed. �Shut up and drive, Catbird!�
�Touchy, ain�t he,� the mustached again teased, elbowing JD.
JD smirked and said, �You�re awful, Catbird! A honey break�that�s bad!�
Clay smiled and said, �They know why you have that codename, Pooh?�
�No,� Vin answered eagerly.
�And you aren�t going to tell them,� Ezra replied evenly.
Clay smiled and said, �We were preparing for this one mission and Ezra came in with these huge honey buns.�
Vin�s eyes brightened. �Those�re good,� he commented.
Clay nodded and locked eyes with the southerner. �He sat down to eat them, dunked them in his coffee the entire time.� Clay turned back to Vin and added, �I�ve never seen anything like that. He used the excess honey off the buns to sweeten his coffee.� Clay shook his head and said, �He put honey on everything! Toast, buns, rolls, bread, in his coffee, his tea. After that we started calling him Pooh Bear, you know, because he was always digging into the honey pot?�
Vin shook his head. �I thought you hated sweets, Pooh Bear,� he said, eyeing the southerner.
�Yes, well,� Ezra said softly. �Honey�s not overly sweet.�
�It�s also very healthy,� Clay said softly. �There�re studies suggesting it increases your immune system.�
�Never saw a sick bear,� JD chuckled.
�Shut up, Little Bit,� Ezra growled. �Keep watching for the others. They were supposed to meet us on this road.�
JD shook his head slightly. �No reason to be grumpy, Pooh Bear. I was only teasing.�
Ezra sighed and glanced at Clay. �Why�d you have to tell them?� he asked. �Now I�ll never hear the end of it! I�ll end up with Disney memorabilia on my desk and references to a certain bear with stuffing for brains!�
�Sorry, Pooh,� Clay whispered. �But you have to admit, it is an amusing story.�
�There they are,� JD chirped, interrupting the conversation.
The van slowed and three men climbed in beside the three agents seated in the rear of the van. �Hello,� Chris said, greeting Clay.
Clay smiled tiredly. �Hello, Cowboy,� he all-but-whispered.
�Tired, Sleepy?� Nathan asked, grinning at the recently rescued agent.
Clay just nodded and leaned against the plush that lined the walls of the van. �Hello, Doc. How�s everything?� he asked softly.
�Can�t complain,� Nathan replied, moving to check over Webb�s injuries. He turned to Chris and said, �Relatively minor injuries, but he�s been drugged and is suffering from sleep deprivation and dehydration.�
Chris nodded and said, �Do what you can. We�ll be at home base soon.�
***
Just as Chris had planned, they reached their home base without anyone following. The Russian soldiers had all been too busy to realize that anything was happening under their noses and Sokal would been knocked out for at least the next two hours. With luck, they�d be out of the area before their ruse had been discovered.
Nathan came back into the common room and sighed. �Well, the package is secured in the other room. It should be ready to transport early tomorrow morning.�
Chris nodded. �Hopefully, they won�t find us here. Catbird, keep a watch out for any company.�
�Right,� Buck said, pulling JD along with him, as he headed back into the room that was housing his equipment.
�Well,� Ezra said softly. �It seems like we may not be here for all that long after all.�
Chris shrugged. �Maybe a couple days more. Unless they get too close, I want to lie low for a while before we leave.�
Ezra nodded.
�Makes sense,� Vin commented softly.
�Everyone relax,� Chris said, sitting down on a wooden bench. �Unless Catbird tells us we got some company coming, there�s no reason to stay keyed up.�
Ezra smiled and pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. �Poker?� he offered.
�I�m up for a friendly game,� Vin said. Josiah and Nathan agreed and soon the four men were playing a lively game, while Chris read quietly in the corner of the room.
A couple days later, Chris watched over Buck�s shoulder as Sokal did exactly what he thought he�d do. Assuming that Chris and his men had made a hasty retreat from the area, Sokal�s men packed up and went looking for them.
�Give it a few more hours,� Chris whispered. �Just to make sure they�re gone for good, then we�ll pack up and head for the transport.�
Buck nodded and turned to JD. �Call our ride, Little Bit, and tell him to be ready for us in two hours.�
�Right,� JD chirped and moved over to the radio.
McLean, Virginia
One Week Later
Clay peeked into the office of Director Travis. �Hey,� he said softly.
�Hello, Clayton,� Orrin greeted. �How are you feeling?�
�Better,� Webb responded.
Orrin nodded. �I�m glad to hear that.�
Webb nodded and said, �Yeah, I�I just wanted to thank you, Orrin. I know you didn�t do it out of the goodness of your heart, but you could just as easily have called out a sweeper to take care of me and�� Webb smiled and tipped his head to one side. �I appreciate it,� he finished weakly.
�You�re welcome,� Orrin said. �Why did Sokal want you?�
Clay�s eyes narrowed. �That�s the real reason I�m here, Orrin. I think Sokal might have been trying to get on the AIO�s good side by turning over the team to them,� he said softly. �If other people get the same idea, the team could be in for some trouble.�
Orrin nodded and frowned thoughtfully. �Do you think he�ll try it again?�
�Not the same way,� Clay answered immediately. �He might try a different tactic, but I should be safe from him now.�
Orrin nodded and replied, �Thank you for the information, Clayton.�
Clay nodded and quietly left the room.
Orrin stared at his computer screen for a moment. He�d have to give Larabee the heads up about the new wrinkle. It could very well be that the AIO had put out some kind of hit on the team. If that were the case, Chris would definitely need to know about it.
End